Helliker secures victory in Monmouth - The Stratford Observer

Helliker secures victory in Monmouth

Stratford Editorial 19th Jul, 2017 Updated: 19th Jul, 2017   0

STRATFORD Triathlon Club’s Martyn Helliker won the Monmouth Downstream Challenge Aquathlon as he completed the overall course in 1:08.44.

The race is organised by Monmouth Triathlon Club and is a small and friendly triathlon renowned for its scenery and friendly racing atmosphere.

There are a number of different distances which can be raced, with Helliker taking on the Downstream Challenge which was a 1km downstream swim in the River Wye he completed in 23.31.

Then followed by a 12.5km trail run which he completed in a speedy 43.45.




STRATFORD TC’s very own ‘wonder woman’ Becky Loftus took on the challenge of the Mainova Ironman European Championships in Frankfurt, Germany.

This 3.8km swim, 180km bike course and 42km run was the main focus of Loftus’ racing calendar for 2017 and her third Ironman (15th marathon).


She finished in 14:01.15, easily getting through the cut-off of 15 hours now imposed on Ironman races.

Even though Loftus was elbowed in the chin during the open water swim, she battled on to achieve a personal best time of 1:48.57.

The cycle route through the beautiful German villages was reminiscent of the Tour de France course, complete with cobbled climb, and Loftus’ cycle training paid off as she achieved another personal best time for her cycle leg of 6:49.22.

By now the sun had risen high and temperatures had climbed and Loftus ran her marathon partially with the aid of ice under her cap to keep cool.

She finished her German Ironman experience with a marathon completed in 5:00.37.

ETON Dorney Lake was the venue for the JLL Property Triathlon featuring Stratford TC’s Nic Reynolds.

Novice triathlete Reynolds has been building up to her first open water triathlon this year, facing a 750m swim, 21km cycle and 5km run. She was keen to take on the challenge and was especially concerned about her weakest discipline, the lake swim.

She completed the event in two hours, four minutes, stating: “One definite area for improvement apart from the swim was the first transition as I had a bit of a fight with the wetsuit and the timing chip before I could get on my way.”

Reports compiled by Rebecca Pridham.

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